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Recall -- Firm Press Release

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 21, 2010 - Morristown, NJ - Actavis Inc. today announced a voluntary recall to the wholesale and retail levels only of 18 lots of Fentanyl Transdermal System 25 mcg/hour C-II patches manufactured for Actavis by Corium International in the United States.

Actavis identified one lot of 25 mcg/hour Fentanyl patch (Control/Lot # 30349) shipped to market that contained one patch that released its active ingredient faster than the approved specification in laboratory testing. An accelerated release of Fentanyl from a 25 mcg/hour patch can lead to adverse events for at-risk patients, including excessive sedation, respiratory depression, hypoventilation (slow breathing), and apnea (temporary suspension of breathing). The patches are packaged individually and boxed in quantities of five patches per box.

Fentanyl Transdermal System is indicated for the management of persistent, moderate to severe chronic pain that requires continuous, around-the-clock opioid administration for an extended period of time and cannot be managed by other means such as non-steroidal analgesics, opioid combination products, or immediate release opioids.

As a precautionary measure, although unaware of any injuries associated with this issue, in addition to the aforementioned lot, Actavis is recalling the additional Control/Lot numbers noted below due to the possibility that additional patches may release active ingredient faster than the approved specification. The Control/Lot number appears on the bottom of the product box and on the black and white side of each individual patch packaging, in the lower left corner.

Recalled Control/Lot #s

30041, Exp 12/2011

30258, Exp 03/2012

30049, Exp 12/2011

30349, Exp 03/2012

30066, Exp 12/2011

30350, Exp 03/2012

30096, Exp 01/2012

30391, Exp 03/2012

30097, Exp 02/2012

30392, Exp 04/2012

30123, Exp 01/2012

30429, Exp 04/2012

30241, Exp 02/2012

30430, Exp 04/2012

30256, Exp 02/2012

30431, Exp 04/2012

30257, Exp 03/2012

30517, Exp 04/2012

Corium, a third party supplier for Actavis, manufactured the recalled patches at their Grand Rapids, Michigan facility.

Under this recall, all wholesalers and retailers are being asked to return the product they have on hand or in stock. Fentanyl patches sold by Actavis in Europe are not impacted in this recall.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Information also is available through the Actavis U.S. website at www.actavis.us by going to the "Fentanyl Recall Information" link on the front page.

Actavis has operators available to help customers, health professionals and consumers with the following information: